Buying a used car should be accompanied by realizing its history. The CarVertical vs Carfax, as well as Bumper vs Carfax, debates have become increasingly relevant for car buyers seeking reliable and accurate information. Different services offer deep vehicle information. However, they are distinctive in coverage areas, pricing, and data sources. This comparison will help you choose the right vehicle history report provider.
What Does a Vehicle History Report Mean?
When Do You Need to Read a Vehicle History Report?
Purchasing a used vehicle should be preceded by obtaining vehicle reports that can protect you from costly surprises. A deep vehicle and title history check can uncover crucial information:
- When purchasing any used car from a dealership or private seller.
- Before finalizing negotiations to verify the seller's claims about the vehicle.
- When selling your current car to establish its market value.
- During the pre-purchase inspection process to cross-reference repair records.
- When investigating potential safety issues or recall data.
- To verify mileage readings and check for potential odometer rollback.
How Does CarVertical Work?
CarVertical leverages data from multiple sources across the automotive industry, including the European Union databases, repair centers, and insurance records. The CarVertical report system processes this vehicle data through its VIN decoder to create comprehensive reports. By entering the vehicle identification number or license plate number, users can access detailed information about their specific vehicle.
How Does Carfax Work?
Being among the well-known providers of vehicle reports, free Carfax reports compile data from over 100,000 sources in North America. Their system tracks vehicle records through the VIN check process, gathering information about title transfers, service and maintenance records, and up-to-date information about any reported accidents or damage.
How Much Do CarVertical and Carfax Reports Cost?
CarVertical positions itself as a cheaper Carfax alternative, as well as an alternative to traditional paid services in the vehicle history market. Their reports typically cost between $20-25 for individual reports, with discounts available when purchasing several reports. The platform occasionally offers promotional pricing and package deals.
Carfax reports tend to come at a higher price point. The range is flexible. They vary from $39.99 (a single report) to $99.99 (multiple reports). While more expensive, they are frequently considered the industry standard in North America. Many dealerships resort to these free Carfax reports in their used car sales.
Features Breakdown: What’s Included in CarVertical and Carfax Reports?
Both services provide comprehensive vehicle information, but their coverage and focus areas differ significantly. If you intend to get a free Carfax report or CarVertical review, here's a detailed comparison of their key features:
| Feature | CarVertical | Carfax |
| Accident History | Yes | Yes |
| Title History | Yes | Yes |
| Service History | Limited | Extensive |
| Mileage Records | Yes | Yes |
| Ownership History | Yes | Yes |
| Vehicle Specifications | Yes | Yes |
| Market Value Estimation | Yes | No |
| European Coverage | Extensive | Limited |
| North American Coverage | Limited | Extensive |
| Recall Information | Yes | Yes |
Positive and Negative Reviews on CarVertical and Carfax
This review is based on customer feedback gathered from various online sources about Carfax and CarVertical. We’ve analyzed and summarized real user experiences to provide an objective overview. These insights reflect customer opinions, not our own.
Here's what users are saying about CarVertical's vehicle history reports:
Pros:
- Reports often contain highly detailed information, including damage photos when available.
- CarVertical is considered useful for European and imported cars, covering international vehicle history well.
- Blockchain-based protection ensures that mileage and accident records cannot be manipulated.
- Service and MOT history allow buyers to check how well the previous owner maintained the vehicle.
- Pricing is more affordable than Carfax.
Cons:
- Some reviews mention a lack of official mileage data from service records, disappointing users who expected full transparency.
- Certain information, like car specifications and number of owners, is publicly available elsewhere for a lower cost.
- A few reports contain incomplete or incorrect information, such as missing accident records or owner-provided photos.
- Not ideal for professional drivers—some taxi and fleet vehicle applications were rejected due to missing registration details.
- CarVertical reports may not be essential for locally registered cars.
Feel free to examine what customers have experienced with Carfax's comprehensive vehicle reporting service:
Pros:
- Carfax tells users whether records are available before they pay. This helps avoid unnecessary purchases.
- Detailed reports provide many buyers with thorough and reliable information.
- Carfax is widely recognized by dealerships, making its reports valuable for resale and trade-ins.
- Reports often include a full history of imported vehicles, which some competitors lack.
- Carfax provides an option to buy a single report, making it convenient for one-time use.
Cons:
- Report errors, such as incorrect accidents or odometer readings, can be difficult to correct. Carfax requires users to contact original data sources.
- Some reviews expected direct customer support via phone. Users must rely on email, which may take days or weeks for a response.
- Some reports contain outdated or incomplete data, such as old service recommendations.
- The cost is relatively high compared to some competitors, especially when reports contain minimal data.
- Errors in reports can negatively impact a car’s resale value, even if later corrected.
How to Get a Free Car History Report
Several online platforms offer a free VIN check with basic vehicle information. These free reports typically include essential details about the vehicle's title status and basic specifications. While not as comprehensive as paid services, they can provide valuable initial insights.
For more detailed information, some Carfax alternatives like EpicVIN and AutoCheck offer promotional free vehicle history reports. Additionally, many dealerships provide free Carfax reports with free VIN checks for vehicles in their inventory, making it worthwhile to request these before making a purchase.
EpicVIN: A Free Alternative to Carfax
EpicVIN has emerged as a notable Carfax alternative, offering free VIN decoder services with a free VIN check and basic vehicle information. While free Carfax reports don't match the depth of paid Carfax reports, EpicVIN is among the leading providers that offer valuable preliminary data including the car's history and basic vehicle specifications. Feel free to find out how to decode a VIN with the help of EpicVIN and its VIN decoder.
What Vehicle History Reports Won’t Tell You
Unreported Accidents and Damage
Not all accidents appear in vehicle reports. Minor collisions handled privately or through small repair services might go unreported. This limitation emphasizes the importance of combining free vehicle history checks with thorough physical inspections to highlight the corresponding accident history.
What Is Minor Damage on Carfax?
Minor damage on free Carfax reports typically refers to cosmetic issues or small repairs that don't affect the vehicle's structural integrity or safety issues. Nevertheless, the definition can vary. What appears as "minor" might actually be more significant.
Do Insurance Companies Report Accidents to Carfax?
Most insurers report accidents to Carfax. However, the process isn't automatic or guaranteed. Some accidents, particularly those settled privately or involving minimal damage, might not appear in these reports.
Missing Service Records
Vehicle history reports may not show all maintenance work, especially services performed by independent repair shops or DIY maintenance. Regular oil changes and minor repairs often go unrecorded in official databases.
Can You Fully Trust Car History Reports?
Although vehicle history reports provide essential insights, they shouldn't be regarded as the only source of reliable data. These reports can miss unreported accidents, incomplete service records, or recent changes to the vehicle's condition.
The best approach is to use these reports as one tool in your evaluation process, alongside professional inspections and test drives. This comprehensive approach helps ensure you're making fully informed decisions about your potential purchase.
Summary
When comparing various services like CarVertical vs Carfax, Bumper vs Carfax, or AutoCheck vs Carfax, each offers valuable but different perspectives on a vehicle's past. Carfax remains the industry standard in North America, with extensive coverage and detailed service history records, though at a higher price point. CarVertical provides a strong Carfax alternative, especially for European vehicles, with competitive pricing and comprehensive reports.
The choice between these services often depends on your specific needs and the vehicle's origin. For maximum confidence, considering several reports from different providers can provide the most comprehensive information. While these tools are invaluable, they should be part of a broader evaluation process. Professional inspections and thorough test drives may be of good use.
Frequently Asked Questions
The most crucial digits in a vehicle identification number help identify key vehicle characteristics:
- Digits 1-3: World Manufacturer Identifier.
- Digits 4-8: Vehicle Description Section.
- Digit 9: Security Check Digit.
While extremely difficult, obtaining vehicle history reports for used cars may be associated with fraudulent reporting or data entry errors. This is why cross-referencing multiple data sources is crucial for verification.
Oil changes, as a rule, appear in vehicle history reports if performed at major service centers or dealerships. They regularly report to history tracking services.
Previous vehicle usage can be verified through several methods:
- Check the ownership history for fleet or commercial registrations.
- Look for specific title brands or designations.
- Review the vehicle's service history patterns.
When a vehicle has no reported mileage on its history report, this could indicate several issues: service centers may have failed to report maintenance visits, the vehicle might have gone long periods without service, or there could be potential fraud with odometer readings. This situation requires thorough investigation before making a purchase decision.
Yes, free Carfax reports provide general title information about previous owners, including duration of ownership and type (private, commercial, or fleet), but protect personal details.
No, individual car owners cannot modify Carfax reports directly. Updates are to be extracted from authorized sources – dealerships, insurance companies, or DMVs.
Yes, obtaining reports helps detect flood damage. However, if the damage wasn't reported or was repaired without insurance involvement, it might not appear in the report. Along with detecting salvage titles, always check for physical signs of water damage during inspection.
A lien shows there's an outstanding financial obligation:
- The vehicle is being used as collateral for a loan.
- Previous loans haven't been fully paid.
- There might be legal claims against the vehicle.
- The vehicle's transfers may be restricted.
